SCREENPLAY FOR MOUNT SOMEWHERE

EXT. OPEN FIELD AND MOUNTAIN - DAY

A field appears full of flowers and mountains.


PHOENIX (V.O.)



It's more than seeing, it's believing. It's



more than touching, it's feeling. It's more



than listening, it's hearing. Not only do you



live it, you dream it. Dare to dream.

Fade to black.

INT. INSIDE A BEDROOM - DAY

Mr. Zale begins yelling to his son.

MR. ZALE



Phoenix! Phoenix, son, you better wake



up! You are going to be late for your



first day of school! You'll never get



into medical school starting off the



year with bad attendance!

Phoenix throws blanket from over his face.






PHOENIX



I'm coming! I'm coming!(Sighs)

Phoenix steps out of bed and walks to the bathroom. Begins brushing teeth and combing his shaggy brown hair. Walks back to his room and begins getting dressed. Soon makes his way down the stairs to the kitchen.

Mrs. Zale and Mr. Zale are seated at the table in the kitchen with breakfast.






MRS. ZALE



Good morning sweet heart.

Kisses Phoenix's head.



















MRS. ZALE



Excited for your first day of school?






PHOENIX



Oh, yes mother! More than you



could even imagine! (Phoenix



says sarcastically.)







MRS. ZALE



Now now Phoenix. You know how



your father and I feel about



your studies.






MR. ZALE



That's right. Now your mother



and I expect precise grades from



you this year. Now that your



brother is off at Harvard you



have some big shoes to fill.

Breakfast continues in silence.






PHOENIX (V.O.)



My brother, Rivers, never wanted to



go to Harvard. He was forced into it



just like I'm going to be forced into



some life that isn't mine to live.

FLASH BACK TO THREE YEARS BEFORE.

EXT. CLUBHOUSE - DAY






RIVERS



Well, this is it. I'm gonna miss



you Phoenix.

Sniffles.






RIVERS



Don't you let mom and dad tell you what



to do with your life. Don't you let



them do what they did to me. I know



you Phoenix, you're better than this.



Don't make my mistake. Live your own



life. Do something big.

Hugs Phoenix tight then leaves the clubhouse.

END OF FLASHBACK.

INT. INSIDE A BEDROOM - DAY

Girl looking into a mirror doing makeup and hair.

ISLAND (V.O)


I wasn't always this sad. Honestly, I


have never really been a sad person at


all. It all started this year.

Runs down the stairs and through the kitchen.





MRS. BRIDGEMAN


Island! Island! Sit down and eat!






ISLAND


Can't mom! Going to be late!

Door slams.

Starts car and peels out driveway.

ISLAND (V.O.)


This year I'm going to start over.


I'm going to do something big.

EXT. MELONRILEY HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

School bell rings.

INT. MELONRILEY HIGHSCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY

Island and Jennifer slam their lockers shut and begin conversation.






JENNIFER


It's the first day and I'm already


tired of this place.

Jennifer and Island begin walking.













ISLAND


I don't know Jen, I'm actually kind of


excited.












JENNIFER


You? Excited? Very funny Island.






ISLAND


No Jen! I'm serious! I really want


to make this one count. After all,


it is our last year.










JENNIFER


Yes it is! And I thank God everyday!

Island jokingly pushes Jennifer while they both laugh and enter the classroom.

INT. MELONRILEY HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY

students shuffling and talking around the room. Island enters the classroom and runs into Phoenix. Both of their books fall and hit the floor.






ISLAND


Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I'm such a


clutz.

Phoenix looks up at Island and his gaze widens.






PHOENIX



Uh...uh.. I'm uh..(stutters)

Island giggles.






ISLAND



You're Phoenix, right? Phoenix Zale?











PHOENIX


Yeah, yeah that's me. I'm sorry, I


didn't catch your name. You are?

Both stand up.






ISLAND


I'm Island. Island Bridgeman. I've


seen your artwork around school. It's


really good.

Both begin walking and take their seats next to each other.
Island keeps talking while Phoenix begins a voice over.










PHOENIX (V.O.)


She was the most beautiful thing I have


ever seen. Her hair was long and brown.


Her eyes were dark like the night. Her


lips were the perfect shade of pink.


I didn't even have to pay attention to


what she was saying because I knew what-


ever she had to say was beautiful.


Phoenix still staring at Island when the voice over ends. Islands voice comes back.






ISLAND




Phoenix? Phoenix?

Phoenix shakes his head from the daze he was in.












PHOENIX



Uh, sorry. What did you say?




Island giggles.






ISLAND



You don't pay much attention,



do you?

The teacher, Mr. Aldridge enters the room.











MR. ALDRIDGE



Settle down! Take your seats.

All students take their seats.











MR. ALDRIDGE



Welcome! You have all just ent-



ered the wonderful world of



chemistry! So, to start off the



year I will be assigning you all



with your very own lab partners!

Students sigh.





MR. ALDRIDGE



Now, I know how excited you all



must be. And, to make it even



better you will have your first



assignment due tomorrow!

More sighs fill the room.











MR. ALDRIDGE



Jennifer Marks you will be with



Eugene Stigman.

Jennifer turns around to see her lab partner, Eugene, with snot running from his nose and a big grin across his face.





MR. ALDRIDGE




Phoenix Zale-

Mr. Aldridge scans the room while Phoenix clenches his fists.





PHOENIX (V.O.)



Please please please be her.



Please please please.

Mr. Aldridge begins speaking again.





MR. ALDRIDGE



You will be with Mrs. Island



Bridgeman.

Phoenix stands up and shouts.






PHOENIX





Yes!

Phoenix sinks down in his seat embarrassed.

EXT. OUTSIDE MELONRILEY HIGH SCHOOL- DAY

Phoenix and Island are walking together outside.






ISLAND


So, we have that assignment due tom-


orrow. Want to come to my house? I can


give you a lift home when we are done.







PHOENIX




Yeah, sounds great!






ISLAND




Awesome! Hop in!

They both get in the car and drive off.






ISLAND


So Phoenix, why haven't we ever talked?


I see you around a lot. It's so funny


how we can just go to school with people


for so long and never even know them. It


makes you really wonder what's going to


happen when we are out their on our own


ya know? Who we will meet, what we will do,


just stuff like that.






PHOENIX (V.O.)





She was perfect.






PHOENIX


I don't really know. Just two different


crowds I guess.

INT. THE BRIDGEMAN HOUSE - DAY

Island yells to her parents while they both hurry up the stairs.






ISLAND




Mom, Dad, I'm home!

INT. ISLANDS ROOM - DAY

They enter islands room.





ISALND


Well, this is it! Make yourself


comfortable.

Phoenix begins scanning the room. He looks at all the paintings of wild flowers, trees, and numerous pictures of mountains.






PHOENIX




Did you take these?






ISLAND





Uh, I wish.






PHOENIX




They are beautiful.







ISLAND


I like to look at them when I need to


escape. Everyone has that one place.






PHOENIX


I would love to be somewhere like that.


Away from everyone, everything. Just me


and the earth.

They both sit in silence staring at the picture of the mountain.






PHOENIX


But I could never do something like


that.






ISLAND


Well sure you can! Heck, I would


come with you!

Island laughs.






PHOENIX


No, Island. You don't understand.


Happiness isn't an option. I can't


actually do what I want to do. My


whole life is already planned.






ISLAND




What do you mean?






PHOENIX



My parents want me to go to med-



ical school. The medical school they



want. They want me to live a certain



life. The life they want.







ISLAND



Well, what about your art?







PHOENIX



They don't even know I paint.



I'm invisible.

The both sit in silence.






PHOENIX



Wow, I'm so sorry. I'm just going



on and on about something you prob-



ably have no interest in! Let's just



start on that assignment.

Phoenix begins opening his school bag.






ISLAND



No. Forget the assignment. If you



want to go somewhere great then go!



Right now!






PHOENIX





Right now?






ISLAND



Yeah! Why not? It will be our



little adventure.

Island grabs a notebook and a pen and begins writing.






ISLAND



First, we need a checklist.






PHOENIX





checklist?









ISLAND



Yes, a checklist. Were you plann-



ing on just going somewhere with



no supplies?






PHOENIX



You're right! We need..uh..food!



No, not food, but seeds! We will



grow our own food.






ISLAND



Yes! And we need a tent and lots



of blankets. At least until we can



make our own house.






PHOENIX



We need forks, knives, pots, and



pans. We can fish from streams



and hunt the land.






ISLAND



Lots of clothes! Nothing fancy,



just clothes.

Phoenix begins to add onto the list when islands mom yells from downstairs.





MRS. BRIDGEMAN



Island it's getting late! Time to



bring your little friend home!

Island looks down at her watch.






ISLAND



Oh my gosh! Wow, we didn't even



start the assignment.

Phoenix laughs.






ISLAND



It's already ten o'clock!






PHOENIX



Well, it looks like Mr. Aldridge



is in for a surprise.

Island and Phoenix laugh together.






PHOENIX


I had a lot of fun with you tonight


Island.

Phoenix and Island smile at one another.






ISLAND




I had a lot of fun too.

INT. PHOENIX BEDROOM - NIGHT

Phoenix falls back into his bed staring up smiling at the ceiling.






PHOENIX (V.O.)



Could she be any more perfect? How will



I ever sleep tonight knowing I just



had the best night of my life in years



with this beautiful angel. I just met her



and I already can't stand not being right



next to her.

INT. MELONRILEY HIGHSCHOOL CHEMISTRY ROOM - DAY

Phoenix enters the room and takes his seat next to Island.






PHOENIX




So, what's the excuse?






ISLAND





Let's leave.






PHOENIX



What kind of an excuse is that?

Phoenix laughs.






ISLAND



No, Phoenix, lets really just leave!



I want to show you something!






PHOENIX




Island, we can't just leave.











ISLAND



Sure we can! Come on Phoenix live



a little. Please?

Island keeps begging.






PHOENIX (V.O.)



How could I say no to that perfect



face? Come on Phoenix, do something



for once. Do it. Do it.






PHOENIX





Let's go.

Island leaps up and grabs her bags and grabs Phoenix's hand. Phoenix picks up his bag and they both run out the door.

INT. ISLANDS CAR - DAY






PHOENIX



So, where exactly are you taking me?






ISLAND




You'll see! You'll see!

The car pulls into a small wooded trail.






ISLAND




Here we are!

Island and Phoenix step out the car.






ISLAND





Now, we walk.

Island and Phoenix begin walking down the trail.






PHOENIX


Can you just tell me where we are


going already?












ISLAND


I told you you'll see! So impatient.

Island and Phoenix arrive to a field of yellow wildflowers with mountains in the distance.





ISLAND





Ta da!

Island lifts up her hands and spins in a circle.






PHOENIX



Wow. What is this place?






ISLAND



Just my favorite place in the



whole wide world.






PHOENIX





It's amazing.






ISLAND



I knew you would like it.

Phoenix leans over to brush his hands against the flowers.






PHOENIX



How did you find this place?









ISLAND


When I was little, one day me and my


brother decided to run away. Our parents


told us we were punished or something silly


like that. I mean, we were kids. Anyway, we


wondered off and somehow came across this place.


We stayed here all day never wanting to leave.


Sooner or later a search party was sent out,


but lucky for us we were already on our way back


when they found us. So, no one ever knew about


our special place except us. We came here every


chance we had after that.






PHOENIX


Where is your brother now? I haven't met


him yet.

Island pauses before speaking.






ISLAND





He died.

There is a short silence between the two of them.





PHOENIX



I'm so sorry Island. I didn't know.






ISLAND



No, Phoenix, don't be sorry. It was



a long time ago.

Island puts her hand over Phoenix's.






ISLAND




Wanna know something?






PHOENIX





Yeah, sure.






ISLAND



I didn't cry when they told me he



died. Know why?

Phoenix turns to look at Island.






ISLAND



The day he died I was sitting right



here by myself. It was before my parents



had even told me. I came here a lot when



he got sick and while I was sitting here



I saw him. I saw Caleb. He was running



toward me with a handful of flowers. He



yelled my name and when I got up to run



to him, he was gone. That's when I knew he



was gone. That's when I knew he was happy.



Island looks up at Phoenix with a smile and a tear rolling down her cheek. Phoenix wipes the tear from her cheek and kisses her.

INT. THE ZALE HOUSE - NIGHT

Phoenix runs inside and slams the door behind him. He slams his back against the closed door with a big smile on his face.

Mr. Zale begins yelling.






MR. ZALE



Phoenix! Phoenix! Is that you?

Phoenix begins walking to the kitchen where is dad was calling him.






PHOENIX




Yeah, dad, it's me.

Phoenix enters the kitchen to see his father. His father begins yelling.






MR. ZALE



Where in the world have you been?






PHOENIX



Dad calm down. I was with Island. We



had homework.






MR ZALE



Oh really? What homework? Because



the school called, Phoenix.

Phoenix starts walking closer to his dad.






PHOENIX



Look, dad, I'm sorry I-

Mr. Zale slams his hand down and cuts Phoenix off.






MR. ZALE



Save it, Phoenix. How exactly do



you plan on being successful if



you just start skipping school?



Mr. Zale mumbles under his breathe.






MR. ZALE



Why can't you just be like your



brother? (mumbles)






PHOENIX



Why can I be like my brother? Why



can't I be unhappy you mean? Cause



if that's what you mean then I'm alre-



ady so much better than Rivers. Do you



actually think Rivers was happy? happy



you forced him into something he didn't



even want?





MR. ZALE




That's enough Phoenix.

Phoenix slams down his hand.






PHOENIX


No, dad, it's isn't enough. Nothing


is enough for you. Nothing is ever


good enough. I'm done following


your dream. It's time for me to start


making my own decisions.






MR. ZALE



What is that supposed to mean?

Phoenix runs upstairs not answering his dad. Mr. Zale begins yelling.






MR. ZALE



Phoenix, son, get back down here!



Don't you just walk away from me.

Phoenix begins packing his things. He opens a drawer and begins packing things.






PHOENIX (V.O.)



Islands right. If I want to go som-



ewhere great then I should. It's time



to start my own life, and I want Island



to come with me.

Phoenix runs down the stairs and out the door. Mr. Zale yells in the background.






MR. ZALE



Phoenix! Where are you go-

The door slams.

INT. PHOENIX'S CAR - NIGHT

The car pulls into Islands driveway. The clock reads 11:55. Phoenix steps out the car and begins walking to Islands window in the back of the house. Phoenix picks up a rock and tosses it at the window.






PHOENIX



Island, Island, Island!

The window to Islands room opens.






ISLAND




Phoenix? Is that you?






PHOENIX


Thank God you heard me. Look, Island,


I need to talk to you.






ISLAND




Right now?






PHOENIX


Yes! Can you please come down here?

Island disappears from her window and goes downstairs. She opens the door and meets Phoenix outside.






PHOENIX


Island I need you to come with me. I'm


leaving.






ISLAND


What? What do you mean you are leaving?


And what do you mean come with you?






PHOENIX


My dad and I, we got in a fight. I can't


take him anymore Island I got to get out


of here.






ISLAND



You are being crazy, Phoenix.

Phoenix grabs islands arms.













PHOENIX


Island, please. You told me if I wanted to


go somewhere great then I should. This is


our chance. This our chance to do something


big, something great with our lives.












ISLAND





Phoenix...






PHOENIX





Island, please.

Island and Phoenix stare at each other.






ISLAND





Okay.

INT. PHOENIXS CAR - NIGHT






ISLAND


I can't believe this is really happening.


This is crazy.

Phoenix laughs loudly.






ISLAND


Where are we even going to go Phoenix?






PHOENIX





You'll see.

Phoenix's car pulls up to the wooded trail.






ISLAND




What are we doing here?






PHOENIX


The mountains, Island. We can run away


into the mountains!

Island turns to look at Phoenix.







ISLAND





You're crazy.







PHOENIX


Island it's perfect. You know it is perfect.


No one will ever know! Just you and me in


the mountains. It will be our chance to


find ourselves. Away from everyone else. Please


Island.






ISLAND

Okay, we will go. But, if this doesn't work

out we will come down right away. Okay?

Phoenix looks at Island and smiles.






PHOENIX





Deal.

Phoenix and Island begin walking through the field to the mountains. They grow farther and farther away.






PHOENIX (V.O.)


We stayed in those mountains for seven years.


For seven years we lived off the land. For seven


years we kept one another company. for seven years


we survived. For seven years we lived.

The sound of wind.






PHOENIX (V.O.)



Then, one day, we came down.

SEVEN YEARS LATER.

EXT. BACK IN TOWN - DAY






MR. ZALE


Excuse me sir, have you seen these people


anywhere?

Mr. Zale holds up a sign to a man with a long brown beard and shaggy hair accompanied by a woman with long hair and a small child.






MAN/PHOENIX




No, I'm sorry, I haven't.

The couple and the child walk away.